Improvement in mowing-machines



H. FISHER. Mowing Machine.

Patented May 7 1861 h n e, v .M J

NITED TATES HENRY FISHER, orntcrmnon, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT mMowmmmAci-imE-s.

Specification formingpart of Letters Patent No. 322th. dated May 7, 1861.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY FISHER, of A1- liance, in the county of Stark and State of ings, making part of this specification, in

which- Figure'l is a perspective view of a machine embodying my said improvements, and Fig.

2 a vertical section at ac .S1m1lar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts'in bothfigures.

The improvements relate,first, to a combination of devices for controlling the machine,

increasing the traction of the driving-wheel, holding the cutter-bar to its work, and elevating it over obstructions when needful; second, to animproved lock-joint on the outer end of the finger-ban.

A is the driving or ground wheel, carrying a cogged ring, B, which imparts motion to the cutter-bar 0 through the medium ofpinion D, shaft E, gearing F G, crank-wheel H, yoke I, and connecting-rod J. v p

The draft frame K isattached adjustably to standards L L, projecting above the axle a of the driving-wheel. M Mare handles secured in front to the axle a, and attheir centers. attached adjustably to standards N, rising from the rear part of the frame, so as to admit of setting the handles at any height to suit the convenience of the operator, j

0 is a wheel running on an adjustable axle, and supporting the heel of the finger-bar P at any desired height.

S is a caster-wheel supporting the finger-.

bar toward its outer end when removing the I machine from place to place.

Q- is a track-clearer pivoted at q, and clamped at any desired height by means of a clamp-screw, q, working in' a slot, q; The said track clearer is'formed on its upper side with a sharp edge, g", (which may be serrated, scalloped, or smooth,)for the. purpose of cutting lodged clover, pea-vines, or other stuff which may come upon it, as well as performing the other functions of the common track-clearer.

T is the shoe, which supports the outer end of the finger while in operation. The manner of securing the shoe and the track-clearer upon the finger-bar is shown in Fig. 2.

The end of the finger-bar is made straight, and is, by means of a screw, U, tighly clamped bolt which connects them and taking off the wheel 0 the cutter is left free to be drawn out without displacing any other part of the machine.

It will be observed that theattachment of the draft-frame K to the standard L above the axle of the driving-wheel tends to throw the weight of the finger-bar, &c., on the driving wheel, and thus increase its traction. This weight is increased, when needful, by pressnre upon the handles M M. By means of the handles the finger-barmay be readily raised V over any obstruction when needful-an action which does not materially change the position of the draft-frame and whifiietree.

- By the use of handles the machine is placed more fully under the control of the operator, the horse is relieved from the labor of drawing so much additional weight, and the oper:

ator subjected to less danger of injury.

The present illustration represents a machine adapted for a single horse. In those of large size two or more horses are of course employed, while by reducing the size of the machine and adding a handle in front the ma chine .is well adapted for a hand or lawn mower.- By dispensing with shaft and tongue the finger-bar is left free'to yield slightly to any sudden obstruction, which might otherwise strain or break it. i

I am aware thata crauk wheel and slotted yoke have previously been used to transmit the required reciprocating motion to the cutter; but I know of no previous instance in which such slotted yoke has been applied to a pivoted connecting-rod in the manner herein shown and described to transmit motion to a movable cutter from a crank-weel roatating in a plane oblique to that of th cutter,

What I claimas new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- V 1. (like combination of the projecting standards L L and adjustable pivoted handles M M, when used in connection witha finger-bar,

ger-bar, formed of the shoe'l, flanges t i, track-clearer Q, and screw U, constructed and applied in the manner and for the purposes explained.

HENRY FISHER.

Witnesses:

DANL'F. FAST, O. A. THOMAS. 

